(Ireland) Political spokesperson slams reduced school hours for SPED students
Sinn Féin spokesperson for Special Education, Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh TD, has criticised the Government’s ham-fisted approach to increasing educational provision for children with additional needs. Sh said Budget 2027 does not provide confidence that every child who needs a school place will receive one in the years ahead.
The Kildare South TD also slammed the Government for the impact its refusal to engage with teachers’ unions over a new public sector pay deal is having on children with additional needs and their families.
Teachta Ní Raghallaigh said:
“I welcome the reopening of Cosán Community Special School following its recent closure due to staffing shortages. The school is reopening after securing an enhanced staffing arrangement.
“I hope this serves as a lesson for Government. A full complement of staff must be in place before any school opens. The recent Prime Time programme examining conditions in Community Special Schools, particularly those in Carrigaline and Belmayne, was deeply concerning and exposed a serious lack of preparedness and forward planning from the Minister.
“While it is vital that new special education provision comes on stream as quickly as possible, it must be adequately planned and delivered at a standard that reflects the needs of the students attending these schools.
“It is simply not good enough that students are being forced onto reduced
timetables. Government appears more focused on opening places on paper than ensuring children can fully access their education in practice.
“Why is it that children with additional needs are always the first to suffer? Once again, their education is being treated as expendable. . . .
“Unfortunately, I have also heard reports of similar issues arising as a result of the ongoing work-to-rule action. We are aware of at least one special school where pupils are attending on a rotational basis while industrial action continues.
“Because children’s access to sensory and regulation breaks is limited by staffing constraints during the action, the school has reduced timetables rather than compromise student welfare and safety.
“Even in schools where full timetables have been maintained, industrial action is having a disproportionate impact on families of children with additional needs. These families rely on regular communication with teachers and staff, but under the work-to-rule action that communication has inevitably become more limited.
“This situation highlights the cost of the Government’s failure to engage meaningfully with unions. It has also exposed just how much of the work carried out every day by SNAs and teachers falls outside the scope of their contracts. . . . .
“No child should be left at home. A response to a recent Parliamentary Question I submitted revealed that there were 2,262 applications for Home Tuition last year. Many of these accounted for are children who could not access an appropriate school place. This figure, constant over the last 5 years, shows how normalised this awful state of affairs has become.
“The Government continues to deny many children their constitutional right to education. Today’s budget does not provide confidence that every child who needs a place will receive one in the years ahead.
“That is simply not good enough.”
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